In a stark and emotional Christmas message, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has articulated his nation's most profound wish for the coming year: for Russian President Vladimir Putin to die. The address, delivered on December 24, 2025, framed the plea as a desperate hope for peace as Ukraine approaches a fourth year of full-scale conflict.
A Nation's Solemn Christmas Wish
Speaking against the backdrop of the festive season, Zelensky contrasted the hopeful dreams of children worldwide with the grim reality facing his country. "Each of us may think privately, but when we turn to God, of course, we ask for more," he stated. "We ask for peace for Ukraine. We fight for it. And we pray for it." He then voiced the collective desire: "That Putin may perish."
The President sombrely noted that not all Ukrainians were home for Christmas, many no longer had homes, and some were no longer alive. He asserted, however, that Russia had failed to destroy the nation's core spirit. "Yet despite all the hardships brought by Russia, it is incapable of occupying or bombing what matters most. That is our Ukrainian heart, our faith in one another, and our unity," Zelensky declared.
Christmas Eve Marked by 'Godless' Attacks
The leader's words came as Russia launched a fresh assault on Ukraine on Christmas Eve, employing shelling, drones, and missiles. Zelensky condemned the timing and nature of the strikes, labelling them 'godless'. "This is what those who have absolutely nothing in common with Christianity or with anything human do," he added.
Zelensky expressed that while Ukrainians find joy in Christmas music, their greater happiness comes from silence—the absence of "the music of evil," such as the sounds of incoming drones and missiles.
Reports of 'Medieval' Civilian Abductions
The Christmas address followed alarming reports of alleged Russian military actions against civilians just days prior. According to Ukrainian officials, Russian forces conducted a raid described as 'barbaric' and 'medieval' in the northern Sumy region.
Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine's human rights commissioner, stated that approximately 50 Ukrainian civilians were abducted from the border village of Hrabovske and taken into Russia. The group was said to consist mainly of elderly women, including an 89-year-old, and they are reportedly being held incommunicado with their whereabouts unknown.
Ukraine's foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, strongly denounced the action on social media platform X. "With such medieval raids, Putin’s Russia shows it is no different from terrorist groups like ISIS, Boko Haram, or Hamas," he wrote. Sybiha demanded the return of the "civilian hostages" and referenced the thousands of other Ukrainians, including children, who have been forcibly deported to Russia since the invasion began.
As 2025 draws to a close, Zelensky's Christmas message underscores a war that continues to inflict profound human cost, with hopes for peace now framed in the most visceral of terms.
